Yes, it's true. I'll even tell you how.

This year I've only been able to yard sale a few times, yet EVERY time I've paid for everything I purchased. A friend and I went this morning on more of a leisurely (rather than hard-core) yard saling outing. I spent under $10 and will likely end up with a profit.

Here is what I bought:

-Five VERY nice cards w/envelopes @ 5cents each - cost 50 cents

-Two very nice "school" books for the kids @ 50 cents each - cost $1.00

-Three metal stacking orgainzers @ 75 cents each - cost $2.25

-Wally Lamb book  - cost $1.00

-Blue rag rug - FREE

-Fruit label sign - 50 cents

-Sage NIKE slip-on tennies (BRAND NEW!) - 50 cents

-Pear Soap old fashioned tin (not pictured - already put it in the bathroom) 25 cents

-Bed, Bath & Body Lemongrass Sage Body Spray - $1.00

-Set of three FIRM videos still in shrinkwrap $2.00

-Time spent browsing and chatting with friend - Priceless

     GRAND TOTAL $9.00

So...how is it free? I should be able to sell the FIRM video set for enough to cover the day's expenses.

The Deal-of-the-Day (how I've come to classify my yard saling) were the adorable NIKE tennies that were totally NEW! I don't think you can buy anything NIKE for under $25. (They're smudged in the pic cuz dd already wore them - lol)

Yard saling is how I get most of my home decor and all of the "goodies" I couldn't afford, otherwise. For instance, I DON'T buy NIKE, nor do I patronize Bed, Bath & Body, though I like their things.

Since there weren't many sales and we finished early we went for a Starbucks and walked up to the local consignment shop where we both had credit. There, I purchased this very nice pair of Reebok sweat pants with the $31.97 price tag still attached for $8! (Reebok and Nike are the only brands that make their workout clothes long enough for me and both are outrageously priced)

Now, these didn't actually COST me $8, even though that's what the tag said. Why? Because when I yard sale I keep my eye open for name brand clothes that aren't my size and bring them in to this store. She then sells them and I get credit. I'm figuring I probably spent $2-$4 on the clothes that netted me an $8 credit. So...a brand new pair of Reebok workout pants for $2-$4. Can't beat that!

This week was extremely light. Normally I come back with TONS of stuff. Last week I spent around $50. Most of the items have been put away (got lots of clothes) but here are a few of the decor items.

-Big basket $1 - I love these big baskets for books, towels, laundry - anything, really!

- Brass planter w/grapeleaves $3. (Matches grape leaves in my border - I only have one real plant - it's HARDY!)

-Painting $1 - I bought it for the frame, but actually kind of like it. I may use it as-is.

-Second basket  $1 - This one is brand new and very nice. I'll likely use it to package a gift in (it'll be impressive!) or to take rolls to potlucks/dinners.

     GRAND TOTAL $6

I also got a lot of other goodies that week including Pampered Chef Pizza Cutter, Salad Tongs and Condiment Tongs for 25 cents each as well as Liz Claiborne, Calvin Klein and Land's End clothing. Again, I'd never pay the retail price for them, but I like having them!

Here's the planter in place (and yes, that's a yard sale Home Interiors picture above it):

The week I bought these items I found a brand new set of 12 Gary Smally, Keys To Loving Relationships Tapes with workbooks for $5. Brand new in shrinkwrap. Sold them on ebay for $51. Covered my outing except for gas and ebay fees.

Another week I bought a graphing calculator for $10 and sold it on ebay for $70+. Covered that week's purchases.

At another sale I purchased $50 worth of clothes for my 17 y/o ds and I. All were name brand and VERY nice. Pants were $1.50 - $2 and I got a dress for $4. That should tell you how MANY clothes that was. TONS. At this sale there was a bag of ten boxes of sealed tubes of Progesterone Cream. The whole bag was $5. Now, I'm not going to use these, but I'll more than get my $50 back.

Sometimes I pick up nice, hardback books and take them to my new/used bookstore for credit. I buy them for  a quarter and he gives me half of the half-off price. So...if a book is $14 retail, I would get $3.50 credit. I can then use the credit for a gift certificate that I can give as a gift. A $25 certificate ends up costing me $1.75. And who doesn't like a $25 bookstore gift certificate? Of course, I add a 5 cent card to go with it. (And no, I don't buy ugly or cheap cards - the ones I got today were American Greetings w/a price of $2.85 on the back)

The secret is to get what you want but to keep your eye open for things you might not care about, but others will. It's fairly easy to at least break even if you keep your eyes open. And my family LOVES the goodies!